Doll



April 21, 1953 M. MURRAY DOLL.

2 swam- 9mm 1 Filed May 24, 1948 Fig.7.

Inventor o n U M F q. M .C M

Aprifzl, 1953 M. F. MURRAY 2,635,882

pom. Filed May 24, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 24 50 Q 28 Inventor Michael- F. Murray Patented Apr. 21, 1953 DOLL Michael F. Murray, Springfield, reg., assignor of one-half to Edward A. Laksonen and Letha M. Laksonen, both of Springfield, and onetwentieth to Murray D. Agate, Eugene, Oreg.

Application May 24, 1948, Serial N 0. 28,7 89

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy figures or dolls and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a doll including a novel and improved speaking unit mounted therein whereby the said doll will talk, sing or speak, thus providing a highly entertaining article for children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy or educational device for children and the like including a figure or doll and a novel and improved phonograph or sound producing mechanism that is so designed as to receive cylindrical records which are quickly and readily applied to or removed from the sound reproducing mechanism in a convenient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll having a chamber in which there is mounted a record player, a closure for the chamber, and novel and improved means operatively connected to the closure and the record player to automatically stop or brake the record player during the opening of the closure.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a doll having a chamber provided therein, a hinged frame supporting a needle holder and sound box, a closure for the chamber, and novel and improved means for raising the frame to disengage the needle holder from a record during the opening of the closure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a talking doll or figure including a rotary record holder and embodying a main spring which is conveniently wound to rotate the said record holder mechanically.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a doll including a sound reproducing mechanism that is extremely small and compact in structure.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a sound reproducing device for toy dolls that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, and with parts removed therefrom for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 1; t

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

22 Claims.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a similar view as Figure 2, and showing the closure in a raised or open position, an with parts removed therefrom;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents a figure or doll of any suitable size, shape, design or material having a body portion 12, a throat portion or passage l4, and a mouth or opening [6 that communicates with the throat I4.

The body portion I2 is provided with a chamber IS the rear open end of which is closed by a substantially rectangular plate 20 that is removably secured to the rear portion of the body l2 by fasteners or the like 22.

Removably secured to the bottom wall 24 of the chamber I8, by fasteners or the like 26, is a support or anchor plate 28 having an upstanding leg or plate 30 that is spaced from the inner wall 32 of the said chamber l8.

Rotatably supported by the leg 30 and an angle member 34 fixed to the plate 28, is a substantially horizontal drive shaft 36 the forward terminal of which supports a drive gear 38 and the rear terminal of which terminates in a substantially rectangular member 40 that registers with a key receiving opening 42 provided in the plate 20.

Embracing the drive shaft 36, is a spiral spring or main spring 44 one end, the innermost end, of which is fixed to drive shaft 36 and the remaining end of which terminates in a hook 46 that engages a pin 48 which projects outwardly from an upstanding wall 50 fixed to the anchor plate 28.

Suitably fixed on the drive shaft 36, between the wall 50 and the spring 44, is an annular toothed plate or ratchet 52 that is engageable with a substantially L-shaped pawl or dog 54 which is pivoted to the wall 50.

A spring 56 carried by the wall 50 has a free bearing end 58 that engages the pawl 54 to normally urge the same out of engagement with the ratchet 52, as shown best by dotted lines in Figure 7.

The numeral BI] represents a substantially rectangular closure the lower edge of which is turned outwardly to provide a finger-engaging flange 62. Projecting outwardly from the closure 6!), is a pair of spaced parallel fasteners or guide pins 64 that slidably engage substantially vertical guide slots 66 provided in the plate 20.

Engaging one of the fasteners 64, is one end bf a flexible cord or element 68 that extends downwardly through an eye element or guide if] fixed to the plate 2%, downwardly through a further guide or eye element 12 fixed to the wall 50, and is connected to the pawl 54. It is noted that the slack in the cord 68 is such that when the closure 60 is raised to an open position relative to the access opening It and the plate iii, the cord 68 will become taut to pivot the pawl 54, against the action of spring 58, into engagement with the ratchet 52, thus locking the drive shaft 36 against rotation.

Rotatably supported by the upright 30, is a driven shaft IE on which there is fixed a conventional, substantially frusto-conical cylinderreceiving member 13 having a locking ring 86 for supporting a cylindrical record 82 thereto.

The shaft it projects forwardly from the upright 36, and fixed thereto in any suitable manner is an annular gear 34 for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent. Also fixed on the shaft it, between the member 78 and the rear face of the upright 36, is an annular gear that engages an idler gear 38 mounted on a shaft 95 that is rotatably carried by the upright 31) and wall 59. The gear 83 engages the gear 38 whereby the driven shaft 16 will be rotated by the drive shaft 36'.

Hinged to a pair of spaced parallel cars 92 that project outwardly from the upright 3i are the forward ends of'a pair of spaced parallel guide bars or rails 9 the rear ends of which are connected by support straps or braces 96 that will retain the said guide bars 94 spaced parallel to each other.

Fixed to the rear face of the upright 38, is a pair of' spaced parallel, upwardly and rearwardly inclined support arms 93' between which there extends a cross bar or. stop I80 that will support the bars 94 in a substantially horizontal position.

Rotatably supportedon the upper end of the upright ill, is a shaft I02 that is coupled by a pivotal connection as at IM to an externally threaded rod or actuating bar IE5. The shaft I62 supports a gear its that engages the gear 84 carried by the shaft 76, whereby the rod I06 will be rotated with the shaft "I6 and the drive haf -i6.-

Upwardly converging arms Ilfl are pivotally fixed to the straps 96 and these arms H are pivoted to and'support a bearing II2 for the rod [0 6, In this manner, the rod I06 willbe retained spaced parallel to the guide bars 94.

Movable on the rod I055 is a traveling member [I4 that supports a depending sound box H6 having a needle H8 removably secured thereto which engages the cylindrical record 82. The sound box H6 includes outwardly projecting arms II9 having sleeves I2i that slidably engage bars 94.

Connected in a conventional manner to the sound box I I6, is a flexible tube I20 that extends through the throat I4 to the mouth IS. A resonant diaphragm I22 is carried by the tube I20 and is positioned in the mouth I6.

Removably secured to one of the fasteners 64, is an arcuate lift arm or finger I24 that will engage a further arm I26 projecting from the straps 95 to raise the frame or bar 94 and rod I 06 when the closure is open, thus disengaging the needle H8 from the cylindrical record 82.

In the practical use of the present invention, a key I26 is extended through the openin 42 so that the said key Will engage the member 4U 4 at the end of the drive shaft 36. By rotating the hey 26, the spring 44 will be in tension so that when the closure 59 is in a closed position, the spring 54 will unwind to drive the cylinder 82. Also, the rod I will be rotated so that the traveling member II4 will move toward the plate 26 and the needle H3 will engage the cylindrical record 82 to emit sound or tone from the resonator diaphragm I22.

When the closure 69 is raised to an open position, the cord 68 will pull the pawl or pivot the pawl into engagement with the ratchet 52 thus locking the drive shaft 35 against rotation and the cylinder 32 will not rotate. Simultaneously with the stoppingof the drive shaft 35, and the raising of the closure 66;, the finger I2 will engage the finger I2$ to pivot or raise the bars 94 and I 05, thus disengaging the needle H8- with the cylindrical record 82. The record 82 may then be removed through the access opening 74 and replaced by a further record.

Obviously, the doll It may be suitably painted, colored, or shaped and the same may be covered with desirable garments so that the said doll will resemble an actual figure, infant or the like.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying. drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the con-v struction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A phonograph comprising a housing having an access opening, a slidable closure for the access opening, a support mounted in the housing, a rotary cylinder holding member carried by the support, means carried by the support for rotating the holding member, a frame hinged to said support and movable toward and away from the holding member, a sound box slidably carried by said frame and supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on theholding member when the frame ismoved toward theholding member, means for moving the box longitudinally of the holding member, means for braking the rotating means, means carried by said closure for raising said frame from the holdingmember upon opening of said closure, a soundtube carried by said box, a resonant diaphragm carried by said tube and a connectionbetween the braking means and the closure for urging the'braking means to its brake-applying position during. opening of the closure.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said last mentioned means includes an arm carried by said closure.

3. The combination of;- claim 1, whereinsaid rotating means includes a drive shaft and a ratchet carriedby said drive shaft, and said braking means includes a locking pawl-normally disengaging. said ratchet to permit rotation of said drive shaft, said connection including a flexible. member joining said pawl to said closure foractuation of the former into locking. engagement with said ratchet during opening of said closure.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rotating means includes a drive shaft, a driven shaft, gears connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, and a spring for driving said drive shaft.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said box moving means includes a rotary screw, and means operatively connecting said screw to said rotating means.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced parallel guide bars, and means carried by said support for holding said bars in a substantially horizontal position.

7. A phonograph comprising a body, a chamber providedin said body and having an access opening, a slidable closure for said access opening, a support mounted in said chamber including an upright, a drive shaft carried by said support, means for driving said drive shaft, a driven shaft carried by said upright for supporting a cylinder, gear means connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, a frame hinged to said upright and movable toward and away from the driven shaft, said frame including a pair of guide bars, a sound box slidably carried by said guide bars, means connected to said driven shaft for actuating said box, said box supporting a needle, that will engage a cylinder on the driven shaft when the frame is moved toward the driven shaft, a sound tube carried by said box, a resonant diaphragm carried by said tube, a braking mechanism for said first-named means, and means carried by said closure for raising the frame and the sound box away from the driven shaft and for simultaneously urging the braking mechanism to its brake-applying position.

8; A phonograph comprising a body, a chamber provided in said body having an access opening, a slidable closure for said access opening, a support mounted in said chamber including an upright, a drive shaft carried by said support, means for driving said drive shaft, a driven shaft carried by said upright for supporting a cylinder, gear means connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, a frame hinged to said upright and movable toward and away from the driven shaft and including a pair of guide bars, a sound box slidably carried by said guide bars, means for moving said box longitudinally of said driven shaft, said box supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the driven shaft when the frame is moved toward the driven shaft, a sound tube carried by said box, a resonant diaphragm carried by said tube, a locking pawl pivoted on said support, a ratchet carried by said drive shaft for engaging said pawl, means normally urging said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, and means for actuating said pawl into engagement with said ratchet and for also raising the frame and the sound box from the driven shaft.

9. A phonograph comprising a support body, a chamber provided in said body having an access opening, a slidable closure for said access opening, a support mounted in said chamber including an upright, a drive shaft carried by said support, means for driving said drive shaft, a driven shaft carried by said upright for supporting a cylinder, gear means connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, 21. frame hinged to said upright and movable toward and away from the driven shaft, said frame including a pair of guide bars, a sound box slidably carried by said guide bars, means for moving said box longitudinally of said driven shaft, said box supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the driven shaft when the frame is moved toward thedriven shaft, a sound tube carried by said box, a resonant diaphragm carried by said tube, a locking pawl pivoted on said support, a ratchet carried by said drive shaft for engaging said. pawl, means normally urging said pawl out of. engagement with said ratchet, means connecting said pawl to said door for actuating said pawl into locking engagement with said ratchet during opening of said closure andan arm carried by the closure for raising the frame and the sound box during opening of said closure.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said means for moving said box includes a threaded rod, and means operatively connecting said rod to said driven shaft for rotation of the former with the latter.

11. A doll comprising a miniature figure having a chamber provided therein, said chamber having an access opening, a slidable closure for the access opening, a support. mounted in the chamber, a rotary cylinder holding member carried by the support, means carried by the support for rotating the holding member, a frame hinged to the support for vertical swinging movement toward and away from the holding member, a sound box slidably carried by said frame and supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the holding member when the frame is moved toward the holding member, means for moving the box longitudinally of the holding member, means for braking the rotating means, and means carried by the closure for simultaneously raising the frame relative to, the holding memher and urging the braking means to its brakeapplying position duringopening of the closure.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a flexible connection between said closure and said braking means and an arm carried by the closure for engaging and lifting the frame.

13. A doll comprising a miniature figure having a chamber provided therein, said chamber having an access opening, a slidable closure for said access opening, a support mounted. in the chamber, a rotary cylinder holding member carried by the support, a frame hinged to said support and paralleling the holder member when in use, a sound box slidably carried by the frame and supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the holding member when the frame is parallel to the holding member, means for rotating said holding member, a driving means connected to said means for rotating said holding member and including a feed screw supporting said box, means for braking the rotating means, a flexible connection between said sliding closure, and said braking means whereby said braking means will be urged to its brake-applying position during opening of said closure, and an arm carried by said closure for engaging and lifting the frame away from the holding member during opening of the closure.

14. A doll comprising a miniature figure having a chamber therein, said chamber having an access opening, a slidable closure for the access opening, a mechanical reproducing system mounted in said chamber and including a braking mechanism and a vertically swingable sound box supporting frame, a flexible connection between said closure and said braking mechanism for urging the braking mechanism to its brakeapplying position upon opening of the closure, and an arm carried by the closure for raising the frame during opening of the closure to raise the sound box to an inoperative position, H

15. A phonograph comprising a housing having an access opening, a single slidable closure for the access opening, a support mounted in the housing, a rotary cylinder holding member carried by the support, means carried by the support for rotating the holding member, an elongated frame hinged at one end to said support and overlying said holding member, said frame paralleling said holding member normally, a sound box slidably carried'by the frame and supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the holding member when the frame is disposed parallel to said holding member,-means for moving the box longitudinally of the holding member, means for braking the rotating means, means carried by the closure for raising the frame from the holding member and the sound box to an inoperative position'upon opening of the closure, and a connector between the braking means and the closure for urging the braking means to its brake-applying position duringopening of the closure.

16.- The combination of claim 15 wherein said means carriedby said closure for raising the frame includes a resilient arm attached to the closure and underlying the end of the frame remote from the support.

17. The combination of claim 15 wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced parallel guide bars pivoted at one of their ends to said sup-- port, said frame also including a rotary feed screw also-paralleling said guide bars.

18. A. phonograph comprising a supporting body having a chamber therein and an access opening for the chamber, a slidable closure for the-access opening, a support mounted in said chamber including an upright, a drive shaft carried by said support, means for driving said drive shaft, a driven shaft carried by said upright for supporting'a cylinder, gear means connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, an elongated frame hinged at one end to said upright and movable toward and away from the driven shaft, said frame including a pair of guide bars, a sound box slidably carried by said guide bars, means connected to said driven shaft for actuating said box and including a feed ,screw and a pivot securing one end of said feed screw to said driven shaft, a braking mechanism for said first-named means, and means carried by said closure for raising the frame and the sound box away from the driven shaft and for simultaneously urging the brake mechanism to its brake-applying position whereby the phonograph will be inactive as the closure is moved to its closed position to permit unrestricted removal of a cylinder from the driven shaft.

19. A phonograph comprising a casing, said casing having an access opening,.a slidable closure for said access opening, a support mounted in said housing and including an upright, a drive shaft carried bysaid support, means for driving said drive shaft, a driven shaft carried by said upright for supporting a cylinder, gear means connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, an elongated framehinged at one. end to said upright and movable toward and away from the driven shaft, said frame including a pair of parallelguide bars, a sound box slid- ,ablycarried by said guidebars, means for moving said box longitudinally of said driven shaft, said box supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the driven shaft when theframe is moved toward the driven shaft, a locking pawl pivoted on said support, a ratchet carried by said drive shaft for engaging said pawl, means normally urging said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, and means for actuating said pawl into engagement with said ratchet and for also raising the frame and the sound box from the driven shaft.

20. A phonograph comprising -a housing, said housing having an access opening, a single slidable closure for the access opening, a support mounted in the chamber, a rotary cylinder holding member carried by the support, means mounted on the support for rotating the holding member, an elongated frame hinged at one end to the support for vertical swinging movement toward and away from the holding member, a sound box slidably carried by said frame and supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the holding member when the frame is moved toward the holding member, means for moving the box longitudinally of the holding member, means for braking the rotating means, and means carried by the closure engaging the end of said frame remote from the support for raising the frame relative to the holding member upon opening of the closure, and means connecting said closure to said braking means for urging the braking means to. its brake-applying position during opening of the closure.

21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said means carried by the closure for raising the frame includes an arm attached to said closure and underlying the end. of said frame remote from the support.

22,. A phonograph comprising a housing, said housing having an access opening, a slidable closure for said access opening, a support mounted in the housing, a rotary. cylinder holding member carried by the support, an elongated frame disposed laterally of the support and including first and second end portions, the first end portion of said frame being pivoted to said support for vertical swinging movement of said frame toward and away from said holding member, a sound box slidably carried by the frame and supporting a needle that will engage a cylinder on the holding member when the frame is parallel to the holding member, means for rotating said holding member, a driving means operatively connected to said holding member operating in unison with the latter and including a feed screw supporting said box, means for braking the rotating means, means carried by said closure for engaging the second end portion of said frame to raise the frame from the holding member upon opening of the closure, and a connection between said sliding closure and said braking means for forcing the braking means to its brake-applying position during opening of said closure.

MICHAEL F. MURRAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,036,413 Arnold Aug. 20, 1912 1,097,771 Rotter et al May 26, 1914 1,247,441 Moroney Nov. 20, 1917 1,485,137 Hunter Feb. 26, 1924 1,517,690 Abt Dec. 2, 1924 1,787,911 La Rue Jan. 6, 1931 2,203,096 La Forest June 4, 1940 2,276,459 Brady Mar. 17, 1942 2,429,703 Vagtborg et al Oct. 28, 1947 2,532,555 Kamler. Dec. 5, 1950 

